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5 Ways to Support Healthy Legs and Veins
Posted on by Paula Gallagher
From spider veins to varicose veins, or even from just plain fatigue, our legs can really take abuse. However, a few simple changes can help improve circulation and support healthy legs and veins. The most common cause of leg circulation problems is venous insufficiency, a condition caused by impaired blood flow in the legs. The blood pools in the lower legs when the calf muscle pump doesn’t work properly.
When the muscles in the calf contract, they empty the deep leg veins, helping to push the blood up the legs, against gravity, back to the heart. This pump works with a system of valves in the veins that prevent the blood flowing back down again to the legs. But sometimes the pump fails. The calf muscle pump may become weak with lack of regular use. Sitting or standing for too long can cause the walls of the veins to stretch, and the valves inside can become damaged and leak so that the blood simply moves up and down locally instead of returning to the heart.
Local pressure may also obstruct the upward flow of blood. This can be caused by increased weight, either due to obesity or pregnancy. The calf muscles may waste due to changes in gait caused by back, leg or joint pain, injury to muscles or nerves, illness, or for any reason that causes the foot to not flex fully.
Signs of Venous Insufficiency
- Pain, or feelings of heaviness, tiredness, aching, or restlessness in the legs
- Swelling of the legs and ankles
- Varicose or spider veins
- Skin discoloration
- Dermatitis-type issues such as rashes and redness
- Sores or open wounds that won’t heal
5 Tips to Help Support Leg Health
1. Vein Supportive Supplement
Bioflavonoids, such as those found in Pathway Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex, have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that citrus bioflavonoids can help strengthen vein walls, enhance vein elasticity, promote healthy circulation, and improve leg comfort.
2. Exercise regularly
Exercising regularly, following a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy body weight will help provide good circulation in the legs. Maintaining the calf muscle pump requires activities that move the ankle joint and contract the calf muscle. Avoid staying stationary for long periods of time because it stagnates circulation.
3. Walk
Walking is an essential everyday activity to maintain the health of our legs. If you can, try walking instead of driving when doing short local errands to provide a workout for the calf muscle pump.
4. Moisturize your legs
Don't overlook this important step. Moisturizing your legs not only makes them more soft and supple, but the act of massaging the lotion onto the skin also helps improve circulation.
5. Put your feet up
Putting your feet up for short periods of time relieves pooling of the blood, providing relief from swelling and aching, but it doesn’t improve circulation in the long term. So make sure that you are keeping active, too.
Keep the blood pumping in your legs by giving your hardworking limbs some care and attention. Healthy legs are important in helping us remain active and healthy for life.
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